Conversation participants were reluctant to identify
specific services to cut, and a majority favored changes in service delivery to
avoid cuts.

An overwhelming majority (84 percent) agreed that the state
has a role in ensuring that quality services are available in every community.
Generally, participants supported some kind of revenue sharing between the
state and cities.

Participants agreed (86 percent) that people other than city
residents who use city services should also help pay for them.

Participants generally favored implementing a local sales
tax as long as the tax was for a specific resource only (community center,
athletic facility). They generally did not favor implementation of a local
sales tax solely to pay for general city services.

The League is completing return visits this month to most of
the 12 cities that participated in the conversations to formally present the
results to participants and other interested community residents. The findings
will be widely shared statewide throughout the summer and will be used by
League policy committees to develop and refine city-related legislative policies for the 2013 State
Legislative session.

We're focused on helping Minnesotans learn more about the city services your taxes pay for, how to help kids understand what cities do, and ways you can get involved to make your community a better place. Learn more at http://www.citiesmatter.org/.